Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

Absolutely amazing

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

This movie was so much fun. I looked it up right away, once I recovered from feeling sad about a certain sad thing I won't give away-- and I'm so startled by the hostility in the comments. In fact this movie does contain a gang of hogs, some poor people who are happy and kind, and a prostitute, and these elements seem to trigger fear in many viewers that they are being conned by a derivative movie or if they are rural people, that someone is putting them down. Some movies aren't that kind of movie and anyway, they should try being black or Chinese if they want to experience rampant powerlessness of that kind. They don't know the half of it. Anyway, why are none of the "reviewers?" bothered by the presentation of this boy(the Kid) who's been abandoned and lived alone by the river all his life, I wonder? They don't say "Unfair to say that about rural life!" Or, "we don't treat kids that way in Arkansas!" Anyway, this movie is engrossing-- though nothing of the kind may have happened to you or me so what? I will never forget the huge hole where the factory was, and the way Bob Hoskins' keeps presenting himself as a ruthless conman but can't help himself if it would mean harming anyone else the tiniest bit. Isn't it always a bargain to see these good actors? Isn't it funny to hear about the Mile-High Pie? How can anyone say Swoosie Kurtz didn't look good in that Elvis pompadour wig which was taller than she was herself? I thought she was glamorous and I believe Beau Bridges did too, which was what made this movie great.

Part of this movie was filmed in my hometown and I made the final cut as an extra. It's the only reason I even knew the film existed and I went to great lengths to find it. I wish I hadn't. The acting (even mine) is bad, and the writing is worse. Antonio Banderas was an executive producer on the project and that could explain why he always looked miserable on set. There was one really nice scene of Randy Travis(the cliché singing sheriff) crooning, but that apparently got left on the cutting room floor. Oh, yea, and nobody feeds humans to hogs in Arkansas. They are fed to alligators in Louisiana, just kidding. If you want to see a film about how utterly backward Arkansas is, try Sling Blade. But, honestly, we're not all simple minded hillbillys and rednecks...don't let the accent fool you.

Startz finally released this turkey on American television tonight. This film is a waste of good talented actors. Bob Hoskins seems lost in the film as a fake monk. In fact, I could not believe that in one scene he was dancing what is called the Texas Dance in his monk robes in an Arkansas dance hall.The movie is a series of road vinettes that really don't make much sense. I wonder if these actors got paid for the roles. Antonio Banderos was listed as the producer. What got into him. Swoosie Kurtz a good actress was awful in her Presley hair do. No wonder this did not get a theater release.

This is surely the worst film I've seen in the last decade or two. It is difficult to imagine that there is a book on which it was based because there are no characters, no plot and no purpose whatsoever. It is a master class on how NOT to write a script and on how NOT to direct a movie. Arne Glimcher had given us in 1992 "The Mambo Kings", with the same Antonio Banderas. This was a very pleasant film and we could expect for a similar result here. But due to the chaotic situation shown it is difficult to say what went wrong here. Of course, the main fault is with the script that amasses a bunch of loose characters and incidents that never relate to each other in any meaningful way. People come and go out of the film without stating what they are doing or what they were called for. If any praise should be bestowed upon anyone at all, that should go to the actors and actresses involved for the bravura and conviction with which they deliver their lines even if these lines don't mean a thing at all. A consummate disaster that should be avoided at all costs.